Archbishop apologises for statement by CSJ head

ROMAN Catholic Archbishop Edward Gilbert yesterday apologised to the Government and publicly criticised the Archdiocesan Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) for issuing a release which “was based on an erroneous judgment about urgency.” The commission’s statement, articulated by its chairperson attorney Leela Ramdeen, was highly critical of the Government when accusing it of trying to remove Chief Justice Sat Sharma. Miss Ramdeen’s strongly emotive appearance on television earlier this week with Sat Maharaj of the Maha Sabha, has caused uproar among many Catholics, who are accusing her of embarrassing the RC Church and are calling for her resignation. Contacted yesterday, Ramdeen said it would be inappropriate for her to comment now that the Archbishop had spoken.

Newsday was reliably informed however, that Ramdeen offered the Archbishop her resignation which he refused to accept. It has been also reported that several Catholics, including one RC priest, are calling for her removal from the commission. In a strongly worded two-page statement from the RC Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain, Gilbert said the only official spokesman of the RC Church was the Archbishop. “I would not have approved the statement had it been submitted to me. I apologise to Government officials for the temporary complications the statement may have caused them in processing an important issue to the nation.” In disagreeing with the CSJ statement, the Archbishop said it was issued when he was out of the country for eye surgery. He explained that “out of consideration” for his recovery  it was not sent to him for approval before publication.

To prevent a repetition of this, Gilbert said he had asked for each council, commission and secretariat to establish an editorial board comprising four people to review all statements before publication. “If consensus is not achieved, the draft of the statement must be referred to the Archbishop for approval prior to publication,” Gilbert said. He also stated that drafts of statements must be sent to the office of the Archbishop for approval before publication in all matters concerning faith and morals, and in all matters affecting the life of the nation. Gilbert said his practice was to comment via statements which are signed, hold meetings with the media or give written approval for statements from councils, commissions and secretariats which were submitted for formal approval. Commenting on the authority of the Archdiocesan councils, commissions and secretariats to issue releases, Gilbert said they could issue statements “on day to day matters that fall within their respective portfolios. They speak in their own name.”

The Archbishop said he had a policy of meeting with each department head at least once a month to review the ministry of the department. Gilbert praised previous statements made by the CSJ made on social justice issues, describing them as “substantive in content, challenging in nature and received very positively” by the Archdiocese, various religious traditions represented in the Inter-Religious Organisation, departments of Government, United Nations and private sector. Apart from the new controls which will be implemented, Gilbert said he would continue to support the CSJ in its ministry and reaffirmed his confidence in all councils, commissions and secretariats of the Archdiocese.

“I encourage them in collaboration with the priests, religious and lay persons and with members of the ecumenical and interfaith community, to continue the efforts to bring the values of God to the nation.” Ramdeen’s commission had warned of serious repercussions to the Judiciary and nation if there were plans to remove the Chief Justice. Since then, Gilbert said he had been asked by Catholics and others to clarify the role of these commissions and councils. Ramdeen said yesterday, the establishment of a policy was “excellent and something good.”